The chief executive of the Scout Association UK, Derek Twine had this to say about the Ugandan genocide bill targeting gays, lesbians, their friends and families:
We find the Bill not only discriminatory and contrary to the sanctity of life, but also completely incompatible with our interpretation of the values of our worldwide Scouting Movement. We have already drawn our grave concerns on this to the attention of the Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and we are subsequently aware that the issues are now subject both to WOSM’s direct engagement with the Chief Scout of Uganda (Mrs Maggie Kigozi) and to ongoing global consideration by members of the World Scout Committee.
Twine acknowledges that gay scouts and scout leaders are only a small part of the gay population of Uganda. However, David Bahati, the member of the Ugandan parliament who is the chief sponsor of the bill, is also the Chief Scout and the Chief Commissioner of the Uganda Scout Association.
Irving, Tex. -based Boy Scout of America that has gone to the Supreme Court to retain its right to discriminate against gays has remained silent on the issue. BSA is a member of WOSM.
As a gay Eagle Scout (and God and Country, and Jr. Assistant Scoutmaster) I find this a bit ironic. Why do they speak out on THIS subject? Too little, too late. They need to start at home if they are so concerned about homophobia.
One would think the BSA would come around on the issue. They are of course deeply based in Mormon influence since the 70s, but even the LDS has come out, so to speak, in support of gay rights (except the whole marriage thing of course). How long is it going to take BSA to do the same thing?
The Boy Scouts went to court to preserve their right to discriminate. I don’t look for their support any time soon.